"Monday Bloody Monday"

Head bowed against siling rain
Collar up shielding ears
Hat brim a leaking spout
Shoes beat a tattoo as
He Lowried,
Uphill,
Cobbled streets.
And rued his need of meat
And bread
And eggs
And milk for tea.

A passing car scythed
Gutter water
Over polished shoes
He raised his fist
And ripped a curse
That, against the wind skirl
Went unheard

A shopping list
Suit out from Wizard cleaners.

Perhaps, if he had the cash,
A treat for the dog.

Glimpsed by eyes
Behind net curtains
Safe in the dry;

“Where's he going?”
“Who is he anyway?”
“He'll be soaking”
“He'll be catching his death…”

A car backfires
Once or twice
Or maybe more
Curtains twitch
Then settle
Idle curiosity satisfied.

Cleansing rain
Flushing blood
Into flooding gutters

Cruciform sprawled in the road
A measured man
And his stuff

Curly Kale
Carrots
Shotgun cartridges

False teeth

A Belgian bun.